NOVAK DJOKOVIC has consistently rewritten the tennis history books by setting records throughout his amazing career but the biggest achievement of all could be just a few days away in Paris with a 25th grand slam success.
The current world No.6 was not fancied heading into the French Open after lacklustre performances at Monte Carlo, where he lost 6-3, 6-4 to Alejandro Tabilo in the round of 32, and then in Madrid where he was beaten 6-3, 6-4 by Matteo Arnaldi in the round of 64.
It seemed being stuck on 99 career victories was placing a heavy weight on his shoulders but reaching the 100-win milestone with success at the Geneva Open appears to have freshened up his approach.
That’s quite a remarkable achievement as only Jimmy Connors with 109 ATP triumphs and Roger Federer with 103 have achieved this feat in the open era and the goal now for the 38-year-old Serbian is to win one more grand slam and move ahead of Margaret Court, who has also 24 slam trophies to her immense credit.
Djokovic has won ten Australian Open championships, seven Wimbledon crowns and four US Open titles but because of Rafael Nadal’s dominance at the clay court tournament he has won only three times at Roland Garros, the most recent victory being two years ago.
This, however, will be his 16th consecutive French Open quarter-final – and his 19th in total – which is by far his best run into the later stages of any of the slams and he has won ten straight matches at Roland Garros stretching back to his run to gold medal glory in last summer’s Paris Olympics.
Nole has yet to drop a set at this year’s slam in the French capital but will have to be at his best to reach the last four as Alexander Zverev has advanced to the semi-finals in each of the last four years and has finally recovered from the slump he tumbled into after losing the Australian Open final to Jannik Sinner at the start of the year.
Djokovic, though, will be confident of victory as he enjoys an 8-5 record over the German including a straight sets victory at Roland Garros in 2019 and he is 4/1 with Betway and Bet Victor to win in four sets and 19/20 with the former firm to reach his 13th French Open semi-final.
Whether or not he can then overpower Sinner or Alexander Bublik, who stunned British hope Jack Draper on Monday, is a fascinating proposition.
Madison Keys and Coco Gauff clash in a scintillating all-American quarter-final at the French Open which is an encounter not to be missed. Reigning Australian Open champion Keys is bidding to reach her second semi-final on the Paris clay while Gauff reached the final three years ago only to be overwhelmed in a 6-1, 6-3 reversal to a majestic Iga Swiatek.
Gauff has lost the last two meetings with her opponent, including at last year’s Madrid Open quarter-final when Keys won their quarter-final encounter 7-6, 4-6, 6-4, but can level their head-to head record at three wins apiece by claiming the deciding set at 16/5 with Ladbrokes and Coral.
Lois Boisson is the last French player still standing at Roland Garros after stunning Jessica Pegula by battling back from losing the opening set in their fourth-round match to win 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
It was an astonishing victory for the wildcard entrant, who has never previously played in a grand slam tournament, but despite the passionate support she will receive the world No.361, who celebrated her 22nd birthday last month, will be dismissed by talented teenager Mirra Andreeva in straight sets. That outcome is no better than 4/I with Betway so take Russia’s 18-year-old world No.6 to win by more than 5.5 games at 4/5 with Ladbrokes, Coral and William Hill.
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